A successful LED streetlight project earlier this year coupled with the need to meet federal deadlines has led the city of Boise, Idaho, to reallocate $764,000 of federal stimulus funds toward the deployment of a second phase of LED streetlights.

The funds, received from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program of the U.S. Department of Energy, were originally allocated for a project at a wastewater treatment plant and a homeowners’ fund to make houses energy efficient.

Unable to meet federal deadlines for the wastewater treatment project and the homeowners’ fund, the city of Boise determined that the best use of the funding award was to deploy additional LED streetlights. The wastewater treatment plant project will be funded by an alternate source.

The $764,000 will be used to purchase and install 725 LED streetlight fixtures. According to Boise officials, the city will install 389 historic LED streetlights in the downtown area and 336 “shoebox” style LED streetlights throughout the rest of the city.

Boise has already installed 807 LED streetlights—primarily historic—in its downtown area. “The city was very successful with the first LED streetlight project. With the energy cost savings and reduced electricity consumption, it was natural for us to continue retrofitting as many streetlights as possible,” said Vince Trimboli, community relations supervisor for the city of Boise.

The portion of the project involving decorative fixtures will not involve a competitive bidding process. The city of Boise intends to issue a change order for additional decorative fixtures to Inovus Solar, the supplier of LED streetlights for the first project. Inovus Solar is a local manufacturer of LED area and streetlight fixtures. Boise will issue an RFP for the 336 shoebox style LED streetlights.